Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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Synthroid and blood tests

sonjamaria
sonjamaria
Just wondering if I should take my Synthroid the morning I am having my blood levels checked?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Ive been wonder the same thing i have blood test coming on the 30th. The last time i had a blood test i took my synthyroid and it still turn up as my thyroid levels were still very low...so i dont know im also still very new to this
cd3764
cd3764
The jury seems to be out on this one.

T4 meds such as Synthroid/levothyroxine have a 7-day half-life which means 1/2 the dose is used up after 7 days.

Truly, this would also mean that taking T4 before a blood test really shouldn't make much of a difference with labs.

I've always taken my T4 around 11PM and usually get my labs around 1:30-2PM so, the whole meds timing issue has never really been an issue for me.

Some people say not to take meds before a blood draw.

What I do know is most important is consistency for timing of every blood draw....this way we are comparing apples to apples.
sonjamaria
sonjamaria
I am having mine checked in two days and I am hoping to get some insight. Since starting on the synthroid almost two months ago my biggest problem is severe depression. I am 60 and never in life have I had depression before so I know its the medication. Do they increase in the numbers come back low?
cd3764
cd3764
So sorry to hear about your depression. Sometimes, this stuff happens when people start thyroid meds. All symptoms being caused by your thyroid will eventually ease once your levels are optimized.

If your doctor is thyroid-savvy, your dose will be increased until both your FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels are at least mid-range, if not higher.
sonjamaria
sonjamaria
Fingers crossed. I miss my old self.Thanks for the info it is encouraging me .My test is tomorrow and then my app is on the 30th. I'm wondering if I should up my own dose? Would it hurt anything??
cd3764
cd3764
I'm not a fan of self-medicating.....especially when you're talking about a higher dose.

First off, you'll eventually run out of pills.

Secondly, if you increase your dose without your doctor's approval, you set the stage for higher FreeT4/T3 levels and the doctor thinking your old dose achieved them

It's really best to be working in partnership with your doctor.

The information I share on here *is* in thyroid textbooks - doctors just need to remember what they learned in thyroid class.
sonjamaria
sonjamaria
Makes sense. I'll just wait until the 30th. Thanks.